Two people have been arrested after an armed robbery and aggravated battery early April 21 at a Vero Beach motel, according to a news release.
Michael A. Jackson, 49, was charged with home invasion robbery with a deadly weapon, aggravated battery and giving false identification to law enforcement, according to the Indian River County Jail’s website. Leigh H. Kennedy, 47, was charged with burglary with assault or battery and possession of a controlled substance.
Police officers responded just before 2:30 a.m. April 21 to reports of a disturbance at the Palm Inn at 2202 U.S. 1, according to the release. They found a man with significant head injuries and a woman inside one of the rooms.
The man was taken to Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital, where he was treated for the head injuries.
Detectives learned two people, later identified as Jackson and Kennedy, forced their way into the room after knocking on the door, according to the release. They said Jackson hit the man multiple times in the head with an aluminum baseball bat while Kennedy threatened the woman with a knife, demanding money and valuables.
They stole personal property and fled in a white Chevrolet SUV, according to the release. Within minutes, police officers located the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop.
Jackson and Kennedy, who matched the descriptions provided by the man and the woman, were taken into custody without incident.
During the stop, officers saw the passenger try to hide a purse in the back of the SUV, and investigators said they believe the purse was taken during the robbery.
The man and the woman had been staying at Palm Inn for several weeks because of family-related issues at their primary residence, according to arrest reports.
The woman said she and Kennedy knew each other, and Kennedy knew she was staying at the motel, according to the reports. Kennedy told police she went to the woman’s room to ask for help after her vehicle overheated.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the Vero Beach Police Department or Treasure Coast Crime Stoppers at 800-273-8477 to remain anonymous.
(This story has been updated with new information.)
Laurie K. Blandford is a breaking news reporter with TCPalm. Email her at laurie.blandford@tcpalm.com.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Two people arrested after armed robbery and battery at Florida motel
Reporting by Laurie K. Blandford, Treasure Coast Newspapers / Treasure Coast Newspapers
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